ABUJA – A Political Scientist, Prof. Abubakar Oladeji, has advised Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to adhere strictly to the constitution and Electoral Act as it prepares for the conduct of the 2027 general elections.
Oladeji, the Head of Political and Governance Policy Department, Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER), gave the advice in an interview with newsmen in Abuja on Sunday.
On the role of INEC in strengthening Nigeria’s democracy, he urged the commission to be extremely careful and allow electoral process to run strictly within the confines of the law.
“My advice to INEC is simple: election is a very critical issue in democracy, especially in a multi-party democracy like Nigeria.
“Given Nigeria’s cultural and political diversity, INEC must be extremely careful and allow the electoral process to run strictly within the confines of the law,” he said.
Oladeji also stressed the need for the commission to maintain its reputation as a highly respected institution by reviewing every case on its merit and applying due diligence in line with constitutional provisions.
“INEC should look at every case on its page and follow due diligence in reviewing the constitutional provisions around such issue.
“It should find out what the law says regarding any issue and be bold enough to do it,” he said.
He also cautioned against political defections that violate legal timelines.
“Yes the law allows defections and that is not a problem. But it must be done within the confines of electoral guidelines,” he stated.
The don, however, advised that INEC should not interfere in the internal affairs of political parties.
“The issue about parties’ internal democracy is a purely their own affair. It is not the business of INEC to determine who emerges as the candidate of a political party.
“But what INEC should do is to follow the law and let the whole world know that it was done according to the laid-down principle and law,” he said.
Oladeji, however, expressed concern over what he called high rate of election disputes being resolved in courts, saying it undermined public confidence in the electoral process.
“We don’t want many of our elections to be won at the courtroom. The situation in previous years is very appalling. INEC will pronounce somebody elected, there will be litigation, only for that election to be upturned by the court,” he said.
Oladeji said that INEC should ensure that, at least, 80 per cent of elected candidates were declared by the commission and allowed to stand, except where clear violations of the law occurred.
“The word ‘independent’ in INEC is not just a phrase. It is a real word to demonstrate how the process should be, in terms of being aloof from all the parties.
“My advice is for INEC to play according to the rule and let there be free, fair and credible elections for the benefit of all of us,” he said.(NAN)
